Jefferson Pepper "American Evolution" (American Fallout, 2008)

Lofty attempt to recount a hidden history through the musical traditions it birthed.

'American Evolution' represents the first in an ambitious trilogy of releases from Jefferson Pepper, promising to chronicle the untold social history of his country. With this inaugural volume examining the period 1492 to 1940 and many songs seeming to aim at ethnography as much as music, there is certainly a danger that Pepper is overreaching himself. This fear is exacerbated by the political nature of much of the material. Politically inspired songwriting can all too often slip into the realms of the crass, the over-earnest or the platitudinous.

It is pleasing to report, however, that Pepper manages to traverse many of the potential pitfalls. He's an assured lyricist with a gift for narrative which succeeds in providing the philosophical concerns with sufficient resonance and context. There is also an impressive stylistic range on display and at seventeen tracks, there's plenty of room for variety. Given the time period with which the album is concerned, many of the songs reference traditional forms such as old-time, jugband, bluegrass and folk-blues but Pepper also throws in a number of more over roots-rockers.

For the most part, Pepper's vocal delivery of these songs is warm and artless, although it is better suited to an acoustic environment. He can sound a little thin on some of the heavier songs whilst affectation occasionally creeps in elsewhere. It is also true to say that the album as a whole seems over-long, although this is due to the cumulative effect of so much material as opposed to any preponderance of filler. Such caveats do not overly detract from Pepper's capacity to meet the substantial challenge he has set himself. 'American Evolution' has a passion and humanity which is thoroughly endearing.

Date review added:  Friday, March 07, 2008
Reviewer:  Kai Roberts
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  American Fallout